Self-injectable ampul

ABSTRACT

A self-injectable ampul comprises an ampul containing medication and sealed by a penetrable plug. A hollow needle sharpened at both ends carried by the ampul penetrates the plug, and upon continued inward movement severs the plug and carries the plug with it as a piston to eject medicant from the opposite end of the needle. The needle has an external collar mounted between the middle and the inner end thereof. A sleeve extends outwardly from the plug, surrounds substantially one-half the length of the needle, has a bore adjacent to the plug, adapted to receive a portion of the needle, and a counter bore for the remainder thereof having a diameter sufficient to receive the collar. A second sleeve having an external diameter such that its inner end can enter the counter bore in the first sleeve and an internal diameter for receiving the needle has fingers pieces extending radially outwardly therefrom at the outer end portion thereof. A sleeve extension surrounds the remainder of the needle and is removably attached to the outer end of the second sleeve. When the ampoule and the finger pieces are moved toward each other, the inner end of the second sleeve engages the collar and advances the needle so that the inner end thereof passes through the penetratable plug. The plug has a circular line of weakness so that the plug can be made to enter the ampoule and discharge the medication therefrom.

United States Patent [54] SELF-INJECTABLE AMPUL 7 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

[52] US. Cl. 128/220, 128/272 [51] Int. Cl A61 05/00 [50] Field ofSearch 128/220,

218, 218 (N), 218 (NV),218 (P), 218 (PA), 218.1, 218.1 (P), 272

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,352 5/ 1951 Ward etal. 128/220 2,605,767 8/1952 Smith 128/220 Primary ExaminerJoseph S.Reich Attorney-Young & Thompson ABSTRACT: A self-injectable ampulcomprises an ampul containing medication and sealed by a penetrableplug. A hollow needle sharpened at both ends carried by the ampulpenetrates the plug, and upon continued inward movement severs the plugand carries the plug with it as a piston to eject medicant from theopposite end of the needle. The needle has an external collar mountedbetween the middle and the inner end thereof. A sleeve extends outwardlyfrom the plug, surrounds substantially one-half the length of theneedle, has a bore adjacent to the plug, adapted to receive a portion ofthe needle, and a counter bore for the remainder thereof having adiameter sufficient to receive the collar. A second sleeve having anexternal diameter such that its inner end can enter the counter bore inthe first sleeve and an internal diameter for receiving the needle hasfingers pieces extending radially outwardly therefrom at the outer endportion thereof. A sleeve extension surrounds the remainder of theneedle and is removably attached to the outer end of the second sleeve.When the ampoule and the finger pieces are moved toward each other, theinner end of the second sleeve engages the collar and advances theneedle so that the inner end thereof passes through the penetratableplug. The plug has a circular line of weakness so that the plug can bemade to enter the ampoule and discharge the medication therefrom.

2,874,694 2/1959 Blackman... 128/2l8(.1) 3,340,872 9/1967 Cox128/218(,1) 3,378,008 4/1968 Ogle 128/272X SELF-.INJECTABLE AMPUL Thepresent invention relates to self-injectable ampuls, of the one-dosetype 'in which the injection needle is already incorporated in theampul.

Such ampuls are already known, comprising a cylinder and piston forminga syringe in which the medication is contained, the syringe alsoincluding a sterile needle protected by. a removable sleeve. In general,the .piston is constituted by a rubber plug engaged in the opening ofthe ampul to seal the ampul.

However, the plugs used in the prior art do not alwaysseal tightly. Theplugs are rubber and may-become loosewith time and under the action oflight. Also, the needle protector is also used as the piston rod, whichrequires that it be removed from its original position and relocatedwith respect to the plug. Moreover, the ampuls of the prior art had tohave a rather complicated form, and accordingly were molded fromplastic, which was not always stable under conditions of storage.Finally, self-injectable ampuls according to the prior art could bereused, which was highly undesirable because of contamination.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aself-injectable ampul which will remain sealed and sterile over longperiods of storage and under various conditions of storage.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of aself-injectable ampulwhich requires only the simplest manipulation topenetrate the plug and inject the medicant.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide aselfinjectable ampul whose medicant container may be of very simpleshape.

The present invention also provides a self-injectable ampul which cannotbe reused.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide aself-injectable ampul which will berelatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture and easy to prepare for use and to use, and which willprovide sterile medication under all conditions.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, which is a longitudinalcross-sectional view of a self-injectable ampul according to the presentinvention, in the condition of the parts during storage and prior touse.

Referring now to thedrawing in greater detail, there is provided aself-injectable ampul according to the present invention, comprising acylindrical ampul 1 ofglassor the like, containing a single dose of aliquid medicant, and having at its open end an outwardly extending thickflange 2. Ampul l is closed at its open end by a penetrable plug 3 ofrubber or the like, which also has a peripheral flange 4 secured to theflange 2 of ampul 1 by means of a retaining ring 5. Between the body andthe flange of the plug 3 is an annular recess 6 that opens to the rightas seen inthe drawing and that extends through most of the thickness ofthe flange 4 to weaken plug 3 between the body of the plug and theflange 4, that is, to provide a circular line of rupture at a radialdistance from the center of the plug which is the same as the outerdiameter of the portion of plug 3 which is disposed sealingly in ampul1.

Plug 3 has a central recess that opens to the left as seen in thedrawing, in which is force fitted a reduced end portion 7 of a firsttubular element 8. The main body portion of tubular element 8 has anouter diameter which is only slightly less than the internal diameter ofampul 1. Element 8 has an axial bore 9 therethrough which extends allthe way through portion 7 and opens onto the penetrable central portionof plug 3. The left end of tubular element 8 as seen in the drawing isoccupied by an enlarged counter bore 10.

A double-pointed hollow needle 11 is provided, which has a sharpenedpoint 12: disposed in reduced end portion 7 and a sharpened point 13 atits opposite end. A collar 14 is fixed to needle 11 intermediate itsends, but somewhat nearer point 12 than point 13, to limit movement ofneedle 11 relative to tubular element 8. The right-handend of needle llas seen in the drawing is thus engaged in bore 9, while collar 14 isdisposed in counter bore 10.

A second tubular element 15 is slidably disposed in counter bore l0.andhas a central bore in which needle 11 is slidably disposed. At its outeror left end as seen in the drawing, element 15 has a pair ofdiametrically opposite ears or finger pieces 16. Also at its outer end,second tubular element 15 has an axial bore 17 in which is forcefitted'with tight friction a reduced portion 18 of a cover 19 for'theinjection end of the needle 11, which shields the point 13 prior to use.

In operation, the ampul is manipulated to force the ampul l and thefinger pieces 16 toward each other. The inner end of second tubularelement 15 bears against collar 14 and thus presses needle 11 to theright as seen in the drawing so that the point 12 penetrates the plug 3and the central canal of the needle is in communication with themedicant in ampul l. The space between the left-hand end of firsttubular element 8 and the finger pieces 16, or the distance between thecollar 14 and thebottom-of counter bore 10, is sufficient to permit thisrelative penetrating movement between point 12 and plug 3.

With the cover 19 removed, the point 13 can then be inserted in thepatient for parenteral or venous injection of the medicant. The medicantis expelled from ampul 1 through needle 11 by continued relativemovement of the finger pieces 16 and ampul 1 toward each other. Duringthis continued movement, second tubular element 15 with its fingerpieces 16 and the needle 11 and first tubular element 8 all move as aunit toward ampul l. The movement of the right end of the enlargedportion of firsttubular element 8 into the ampul severs plug 3 from itsflange 4 along the line of weakness provided by recess 6. In effect,flange 4 is simply sheared off between tubular element 8 and ampul l.Thereafter, the plug 3, which has removed after this preliminarypenetration, then of course the point 13 is not inserted into thepatient until after this preliminary penetration. But if the plug 3 issufficiently penetrable and weak that the preliminary movement of theneedle relative to the plug can be effected without much force, then thecover 19 can be removed and the point 13 inserted into the patientbefore any movement of the finger pieces 16 and ampul 1 toward eachother takes place.

ln view of the foregoing disclosure, therefore, it will be evident thatall of the initially recited objects of the present invention have beenachieved.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated inconnection with a preferred embodiment, it is of course to be understoodthat modifications and variations may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, as those skilled in this art willreadily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered tobe within the purview and scope of the present invention as defined bythe appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A self-injectable ampul .comprising an elongated ampul for liquidmedicant, an imperforate penetrable plug closing one end of the ampul, ahollow needle pointed at both ends, first means mounting the needleparallel to the longitudinal axis of the ampul and outside the plug forsliding movement of the needle relative to the ampul through the plugand into the medicant, and second means to move the plug, said first andsecond means cooperating to move the plug and needle into the ampul as aunit once the needle has penetrated the plug, said plug having an outerdiameter equal to the inner diameter of said ampul and comprising apiston to force said medicant through the needle, the plug having aseverable flange by which it is secured to the ampul, and said secondmeans including means for severing the flange from the plug and saidsecond means comprising a first hollow tubular member through which theneedle extends.

2. An ampul as claimed in claim 1 said first hollow member having arelatively small diameter bore through which the needle extends and arelatively large diameter bore at the end of said hollow tubular memberopposite the plug, and said first means comprising means movable in saidrelatively large diameter bore first to move the needle relative to thefirst hollow tubular member in cooperation with said second means topenetrate the plug and thereafter to move the needle and the hollowtubular member together as a unit to push the plug into the ampul.

3. An ampul as claimed in claim 2, said means movable in said relativelylarge diameter bore comprising a second hollow tubular membersurrounding the needle and having finger pieces at its end opposite theplug to push said second hollow tubular member into the firstnamedhollow tubular memberi 4. An ampul as claimed in claim 3, and a coverfor the pointed end of the needle opposite the plug, said cover beingremovably secured to said second hollow tubular member.

5. An ampul as claimed in claim 1, and a circular recess coaxial withthe needle at the base of the flange of the plug, said recess having adepth which is most of the axial thickness of the flange thereby toprovide a line of weakness between the plug and its flange.

6. An ampul as claimed in claim 1, the ampul having an outwardlyextending flange at its end in which said plug is disposed, and meanssecuring together said ampul flange and plug flange.

7. An ampul as claimed in claim 3, in which said needle has an abutmentmounted thereon against whichthe other end of said second hollow tubularmember bears, said abutment being spaced from the relatively smalldiameter bore a distance greater than the axial thickness of thepenetrable portion of said plug to pemiit the needle to penetrate theplug before the first hollow tubular member pushes the plug into theampul.

1. A self-injectable ampul comprising an elongated ampul for liquidmedicant, an imperforate penetrable plug closing one end of the ampul, ahollow needle pointed at both ends, first means mounting the needleparallel to the longitudinal axis of the ampul and outside the plug forsliding movement of the needle relative to the ampul through the plugand into the medicant, and second means to move the plug, said first andsecond means cooperating to move the plug and needle into the ampul as aunit once the needle has penetrated the plug, said plug having an outerdiameter equal to the inner diameter of said ampul and comprising apiston to force said medicant through the needle, the plug having aseverable flange by which it is secured to the ampul, and said secondmeans including means for severing the flange from the plug and saidsecond means comprising a first hollow tubular member through which theneedle extends.
 2. An ampul as claimed in claim 1 said first hollowmember having a relatively small diameter bore through which the needleextends and a relatively large diameter bore at the end of said hollowtubular member opposite the plug, and said first means comprising meansmovable in said relatively large diameter bore first to move the needlerelative to the first hollow tubular member in cooperation with saidsecond means to penetrate the plug and thereafter to move the needle andthe hollow tubular member together as a unit to push the plug into theampul.
 3. An ampul as claimed in claim 2, said means movable in saidrelatively large diameter bore comprising a second hollow tubular membersurrounding the needle and having finger pieces at its end opposite theplug to push said second hollow tubular member into the first-namedhollow tubular member.
 4. An ampul as claimed in claim 3, and a coverfor the pointed end of the needle opposite the plug, said cover beingremovably secured to said second hollow tubular member.
 5. An ampul asclaimed in claim 1, and a circular recess coaxial with the needle at thebase of the flange of the plug, said recess having a depth which is mostof the axial thickness of the flange thereby to provide a line ofweakness between the plug and its flange.
 6. An ampul as claimed inclaim 1, the ampul having an outwardly extending flange at its end inwhich said plug is disposed, and means securing together said ampulflange and plug flange.
 7. An ampul as claimed in claim 3, in which saidneedle has an abutment mounted thereon against which the Other end ofsaid second hollow tubular member bears, said abutment being spaced fromthe relatively small diameter bore a distance greater than the axialthickness of the penetrable portion of said plug to permit the needle topenetrate the plug before the first hollow tubular member pushes theplug into the ampul.